Q: Is it true that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament? I've heard people say that God was angry and cruel in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament He was kind and loving. Is this true? — F.R.

A: No, it isn't true; God is the same from one end of the Bible to the other. His character is unchanging, His love is unchanging, His purity is unchanging — and His plan for the human race is unchanging. The Bible says, "I the Lord do not change" (Malachi 3:6).

What did change in the Bible was the situation in which God's people found themselves. In the Old Testament, for example, God's people were often surrounded by nations that rejected God and wanted to destroy them. At times, even God's people turned against Him and adopted the immoral ways of their pagan neighbors. God gave them every opportunity to repent, but sometimes He had no choice but to bring judgment upon them. Never forget: God is holy and just, and eventually all the evils of this world will be destroyed (as the New Testament teaches).

But God is also a God of love. In His love He created us, in His love He takes care of us, and in His love He provided the way for our sins to be forgiven so we could be with Him forever. That way is Jesus Christ, whose coming was foretold in the Old Testament and recorded in the New Testament. The Bible says, "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8).

I invite you to discover the Bible for yourself. But most of all, I invite you to discover the One who is at its center — Jesus Christ — by giving your life to Him.

Q: What good does it do to believe in God? I've tried to believe and go to church and everything, but so far it hasn't made any difference in my life. If anything, things are worse. I'll be interested in your response. — J.W.

A: The most important thing I can tell you is that God loves you and wants to come into your life so you can know Him and have a personal relationship with Him.

From what you say, this hasn't been your experience so far, but it can be, as you turn to Christ in repentance and faith, and invite Him to come into your life. You see, only one thing separates us from God, and that's our sin. God is holy and pure, and even one sin — just one — would be enough to separate us from Him. But God still loves us in spite of our sins and has provided the way for us to be forgiven and cleansed of sin. That way is Jesus Christ, who became the final and complete sacrifice for our sins by dying for us on the cross.

God offers us salvation as a free gift. It is free, because Jesus has already paid for it by shedding His blood for us. And it is a gift, because God wants to give it to us. All we have to do is receive it by believing that Jesus is our Savior and inviting Him into our lives. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Ask Jesus to come into your life today — and He will. Then ask Him to guide you to a church where you can grow spiritually. Your life will never be the same.

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